They have just announced their new, 'Kenya Airways Carbon offsetting program.

(TRAVPR.COM) ENGLAND - June 3rd, 2011 - Kenya Airways is a well-established airline that flies seven days a week to Malawi. In 2009, Kenya Airways Carbon Emissions Monitoring Plans got a seal of approval by the UK Environment Agency in line with the EU-ETS legal requirement. In keeping with this, they have just announced their new, ‘Kenya Airways Carbon offsetting program’.

In this unique initiative developed in cooperation with International Air Transport Association (IATA), the airline will now offer its passengers the opportunity to participate directly in offsetting the Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions related to their flights.

The program is based on a Carbon Calculator Tool built into the airline’s online ticket booking process and through this it is now possible for a passenger to pay an additional amount in respect of carbon emissions related to that flight applied per person.

The program will be rolled out in three stages. The first stage is already live on the airline’s website and is available only for 100% Kenya Airways operated flights. During the second phase, the solution will be made available to the network of travel agents globally. In phase three the airline will make the program inclusive for passengers travelling within the entire network including on code shared flights.

Speaking at the same event, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner noted that climate change was one of the biggest threats facing mankind today. “Finding more sustainable models and approaches to air travel and other forms of transport is a key part of global efforts to tackle climate change…Carbon offsetting is not in itself a solution to climate change, the most effective way being to reduce our emissions. However, high-quality offsetting can reduce the impact of our actions and also help fund projects in developing countries that address both climate change and wider sustainability challenges", added Mr. Steiner.

UNEP is working with airlines, transport companies and some 250 other participants through the Climate Neutral Network (CN Net), to reduce and offset greenhouse gas emissions.

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